Black or White Page #5

looking into that, if you ask me.

The man can drink.

Mr. Jeffers,

if we do go ahead and move to hearing,

that... that's not gonna happen again,

am I right?

- 'Cause I won't put up with that.

- You are correct, Your Honor.

It... It won't happen again.

OK, the clerk will schedule

a family custody hearing

and I'm gonna order psychiatric

evaluations of young Miss Anderson.

And please beware, all of you,

that when we go down this road,

the state has custody options

other than the Jeffers and Mr. Anderson,

so we will all be very courteous

and respectful.

All right?

All rise.

Seemed like that did not go so well.

Yeah.

Have you thought about

learning a new language?

When I am low, or in a place in my life

where I cannot make things happen

the way I want them to happen,

sometimes to busy myself,

I teach myself a new language.

It really seems to help me

feel more at ease.

Even if truly I am just distracted.

Duvan, tell me the truth.

What planet are you really from?

OK? I'm not gonna report you,

I just would like to know.

Eloise, are you sure you're OK?

You want to talk at all about

what you talk with the lady about?

No. I'm OK.

What do you talk about, honey?

Uh, I don't know.

We talk about my daddy, I guess.

If I have dreams of him.

- Do you?

- Yes. Sometimes. Are you mad?

No. Not at all.

The lady said me wanting

to see my daddy would make you angry.

The therapist said that to you?

Actually, she asked me

if it would make you angry

if I dreamed of seeing my daddy.

- What did you say?

- I said I didn't know.

I just dropped Eloise back at school.

She had another one of those...

therapy sessions that the judge ordered.

They're starting to get to her.

She's changing, Rick.

These people are getting in her head

and I don't like it.

OK, I'll get into it. Why don't

I swing by the house in like an hour?

We need to petition a judge on this,

all right?

And I don't want these damn therapists

messing with her head.

- We need to limit this.

- All right. I'm on it, I'm on it.

Eloise.

Eloise, this is the paper

you were supposed to turn in, right?

- Didn't we work on this with Duvan?

- I don't remember.

You have to finish this homework, honey,

all right? Isn't it due tomorrow?

- I think it is.

- Well then, turn that thing off there.

Turn it off,

and get to work on this now.

Papa, you need to stop being so mad

all the time. It's not healthy.

Very good, very good.

You're back.

You're back. I'm so glad.

I have so much

I need to talk to you about.

Rowena wants to take Eloise.

Of course I... said no.

That's what you'd do, right?

I miss you so much.

Don't go away again.

Please...

What did we say, hm?

What did we say about watching cartoons?

- I forget.

- No, you don't.

We said no cartoons until

the homework's done. It's not done.

Now, turn it off.

Eloise, turn that thing off. All right?

I'm being serious here, honey.

This is my serious voice.

You're about to make Papa very angry.

Now turn it off!

I'm gonna count to three.

I'm being serious. One... two...

You listen to me when I'm speaking

to you, young lady, do you hear me, huh?

Do you hear me?

I don't know who you think

you're dealing with here,

but I'm not gonna put up with it!

- Eloise, come here.

- I don't want to live with you.

I want my daddy.

Elliott, you gotta get down here

- as fast as possible.

- What's up?

- It's Reggie.

- What about him?

- He's here.

- Where?

Here, in our office.

He just showed up,

said it was important,

said he needs to see you.

You need to get down here.

Hey, Elliott.

What's up?

Follow me.

Rita, I think this one's

gonna need some strong coffee.

What do you want?

Just, uh... wanted to say hey.

Hey? Good.

Now what do you want?

Elliott, don't be all that way, man.

I need you not to be

all harsh and sh*t, please.

You came here, Reggie.

Now what is it that you want?

I wanted to talk to you about the girl.

- My daughter.

- Eloise.

- Mm-hm.

- What about her?

Well, I know from Rex and them

that my moms and Jeremiah and them,

they wanna...

they wanna take her from you.

There's gonna be a hearing and, um...

I could just go ahead and say that

you should have custody of her, but...

...I just, I need some help now,

Elliott.

I meant me.

The coffee's for me.

- I need some money, Elliott.

- Why am I not shocked?

Why don't you get it from

your Uncle Jeremiah. He's a big shot.

He don't think a whole lot of me.

Mm-hm. What makes you think I do?

What about your mother? I know you don't

have a problem taking money from her.

Well, she's not gonna give me anything

unless I come home

and do things her way.

Why would I give you anything?

Well, I thought...

...I thought that I could

make things easy on you.

You know, just not

be around during all this.

So you, um...

...you think by your staying here,

it makes it easier for them

to take Eloise from me.

Let me tell you something.

The girl, your daughter, Eloise,

she's the only decent thing

you have going.

- Yeah, I know, Elliott. I know that.

- No, you don't.

You don't know sh*t, all right?

You don't know your head

from your ballsack.

I've half a mind to snap your neck

right now, you understand?

I am clean, Elliott.

I've been up in Seattle,

trying to get it together,

- trying to stay clean.

- Bullshit.

No, it's not bullshit.

I'm on a new path. And you got me wrong.

I just...

I'm just hurting with some debts, man,

and I could use a little help.

And I'll go away, man,

for good this time.

You aren't going anywhere.

You be out at my house tonight

at 7:
00 for dinner,

with flowers, a gift,

and a strong line of bullshit.

You come say hello to Eloise, OK?

Eloise. That's her name.

She needs to see you.

She wants to see me? Really?

She's in a lot of pain.

OK.

OK, 7:
00. I'll be there.

Then we can talk some more, you and me?

About that... about the money?

Get out.

Now. Just get out!

- Think I got everything.

- Yes.

- I'm gonna shower.

- No rush.

Wow. You look very, very pretty, Puppy.

Did he say where he's been?

Yes, he's been away on business.

Did he say why he hasn't called?

All this time?

There was a problem, um...

with the phones where he's been.

He feels badly.

But he's coming right now.

That's all that matters.

- Right?

- Yes. That's all that matters.

Why don't you go help Rosita

in the kitchen.

OK.

What you making for me,

my daddy and Papa?

Potatoes and chicken.

Rosita?

Fix yourself a plate to eat,

bring it in here, sweetheart.

I'm sorry, Puppy. He, uh...

He must've gotten held up or something.

Can I be excused, please?

Of course you can.

You don't have to hide this, OK?

This is all I drink, you know that.

This is all I drink.

OK? You don't have to hide it.

It doesn't do me any good.

I know you think it helps...

but it doesn't.

You understand?

Oh...

Jesus.

- Who is it?

- It's Wee Wee, Elliott. Open up.

Oh, Lord.

Please, God, give me a break.

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